A journey through the Holy Land

Alan Goch, the editor of the Jewish Journal, just returned to South Florida following a trip to Israel with the Jewish Federation of Broward County. He shares highlights of his trip with our readers.

Every five years the General Assembly (GA) convenes in Jerusalem, hosted by The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA).

This week's GA – The Global Jewish Shuk: A Marketplace of Dialogue and Debate – drew 3,500 people from around the world to Israel's capital city to discuss issues facing the Jewish State and the global Jewish community at large. The Jewish Federation of Broward County represented the largest delegation. with 106 participants on their mega-mission.

Israeli politics both past and present were well-represented as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the opening ceremony's keynote speaker on Sunday night, focusing on the current situation in the country. President Shimon Peres provided a retrospective on his life and career in a conversation with David Horovitz of the "Times of Israel" on Monday morning.

"You've come here in good times and you've come here in difficult times," Netanyahu said. "We are one big Jewish family."

During his speech, Netanyahu stressed his concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program, peace negotiations with the Palestinians – that can't be met until Palestinian leadership recognizes Israel as a Jewish state, as well as a continued bond between Israel and the Jewish community of North America.

Netanyahu called the proposed compromise regarding multilateral negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program a "bad deal."

"What is being proposed now is a deal in which Iran retains all of that capacity," Netanyahu continued.

Regarding peace negotiations with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said, "I've made difficult choices to advance the peace, but it must be a two-way street. Peace is not a one-way street, and it won't be."

Peres, 90, on the other hand, gave a different perspective on Israeli politics as he recollected on the past in reference to his 65-year career in public life.

Remembering his hero – David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister -- Peres referred to him as "the man who conquered my heart."

Fixated on a lifelong goal of obtaining peace with the Palestinians, Peres stressed, "We are born to bring peace, not strength. Peace is our goal."

"We are negotiating because we do not agree, not because we agree," he continued.

Eric Stillman, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Broward County, offered his thoughts on the global event.

"This is an opportunity to interact with other Jews from across the country as well as across the world, gaining insights and perspectives from Israeli and global leaders."